Theater: Scott Wahle reprises Fiddler’ role at the Reagle

Former WBZ newsman and Hingham resident Scott Wahle joins cast of "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston July 11-21.

By R.Scott Reedy/CORRESPONDENT

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By R.Scott Reedy/CORRESPONDENT

Posted Jul. 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 3, 2013 at 3:12 AM

By R.Scott Reedy/CORRESPONDENT

Posted Jul. 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 3, 2013 at 3:12 AM

WALTHAM

» Social News

Scott Wahle isn’t just playing the father of daughters – as Tevye in Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston’s upcoming "Fiddler on the Roof" – he’s also one in real life.

"I can certainly identify with Tevye. He has five daughters, including three who are marrying-age, and I have four children, including a daughter, Cara, who will be getting married in October," said Wahle by telephone last week. "Tevye is an everyman. He deals with issues and themes that are eternal. Tevye is a God-fearing man as am I, so I identify with that as well."

Wahle is most identifiable from his decade-long run as WBZ-TV’s morning news anchor, but local theatergoers may know him, too, as an award-winning musical-theater veteran whose stage credits include "The Music Man," "Will Rogers Follies," "Forever Plaid" and "Annie." The 1971 graduate of Hingham High School, who still resides in the town, recalls imagining a career in musical theater before heading off to college.

"Back when I was in high school, I wanted a career as an actor. A bunch of us guys would go over to Notre Dame Academy to do their spring musicals. When I got to the University of Notre Dame, however, I almost immediately went to work at the campus radio station and my interests shifted to broadcast journalism," recalls the former news and sports reporter who went on to enjoy a lengthy broadcasting career, including stints in Portland, Hartford, Detroit and, of course, Boston. Wahle did make time, though, for certain shows – including one with which he has since become very familiar.

"’Fiddler’ was my first show. I was in college and from the first moment I saw the audition notice, I knew I wanted to go up for Tevye. I didn’t get the part, but instead ended up being cast as the Fiddler in that dinner-theater production. I made $15 a week and loved every minute of it," says Wahle, who recalls seeing Zero Mostel, Broadway’s original Tony-winning Tevye, do the show at Cohasset’s South Shore Music Circus. "I wasn’t exactly right for the part then, but I finally got to play him at Reagle in 2003. That was a great experience and so I’m thrilled now to have this second chance to play one of the best roles in musical theater."

The 60-year-old will be reprising the role for Reagle, in a new production directed by Kirby Ward and featuring Jerome Robbins’ Tony Award-winning original choreography, recreated by Waltham’s Susan Chebookjian and performed by a 45-member company from Boston, Brighton, Cambridge, Lexington, Natick, Newton, Scituate, Somerville, Stoneham, Sudbury, Waltham, Wellesley and Woburn,. "Getting to step back into this role is wonderful for me as an actor because the longer you get to play a character, the deeper you can go with it. It is a very meaty part. I took a big bite 10 years ago and I plan to take an even bigger bite this time around. It is a decade later and except for myself and maybe two others, it is an entirely different cast, so it feels both comfortable and exciting."

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Theater audiences have been excited by the Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick musical, with book by Joseph Stein and based on stories by Sholem Alecheim, since it premiered on Broadway in 1964 and went on to win nine Tony Awards including Best Musical. The story of a poor but proud Jewish milkman raising his family in an increasingly hostile Tsarist Russia at the dawn of the 20th century has been revived on Broadway four times and spawned both a 1967 feature film and numerous national tours. It features a score that includes "Tradition," "Matchmaker," "If I Were a Rich Man," "Sunrise, Sunset," and an act-two number, "Chavelah," in which Tevye disowns one of his daughters for making a decision that directly challenges her family’s cherished traditions.

"Tevye sings it in the field after learning that his daughter, Chava, has married a Russian soldier. He bends for his other daughters, but he cannot turn his back on his faith and so he must let this daughter go. The song has a gorgeous melody and the most heartbreaking lyrics. It is my favorite from the show and I cry every time I sing it," said Wahle.

Donna Sorbello, the IRNE Award-winning actress who starred as Mrs. Higgins in last season’s "My Fair Lady" at Reagle Music Theatre, returns as Tevye’s wife, Golde.

Wahle – who has sung the national anthem at New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox games, and has also appeared with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops – can relate to the enduring popularity of the show that has been produced worldwide. After 20 years, he left WBZ-TV in 2008. These days when Wahle – whose family includes wife Maribeth, and children Courtney, 28, Cara, 27, Michael, 25, and 15-year-old Kate – is not consulting or doing voice-over work, he can often be found on stage.

"Another TV gig is always a possibility. What I would really like to do, however, is explore more theater opportunities in this region. It’s often said that actors don’t act, they audition, so that’s what I plan to do."